The NerdHerd Reads: Hacker {by Ted Dekker}

Title: Hacker

Author: Ted Dekker

Series: The Outlaw Chronicles, #3

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

"My name is Nyah and I'm a hacker. I know things most people would never believe. Things that shouldn't exist, but do."
Seventeen year old Nyah Parks is a genius hacker who makes a living by cracking the firewalls of the world's largest corporations. But when the biggest job of her life goes wrong she's plunged into a desperate situation with only one way out: one last hack that will either save her or kill her. So begins Hacker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering world around us, the seen and unseen, and reminds us that there's far more to who we are than meets the eye.

Oh my gosh. I don't even know where to start. This entire series was so mind-blowingly amazing, I'm not even sure I can do it justice. But I will try.

I don't usually ever read psychological thrillers, murder mysteries, or horror, but I will read anything Dekker writes. And this book was a prime example of why. He is just an amazing storyteller. The story will suck you in right from the very beginning. Dekker weaves an intricate tale that all comes together, with twists and turns that you won't even be able to guess. When you think you have something figured out, Dekker will make you question everything you know.

This story is about Nyah, a child prodigy who is an expert hacker. Her mother is near death, so to get the money to get her the help she needs, Nyah attempts the riskiest hack of her life…and everything goes completely wrong. Now hiding from the corporation that wants her dead as well as the FBI, Nyah goes to the one person who can help her: her friend and also genius expert hacker dude, Austin. Except, Austin is attempting a hack of his own: hacking his brain.

First off, I may have gotten way too excited when Nyah mentioned Austin the first time, because he was from the first book, Eyes Wide Open, and I was super excited to find out what happens to him as well. Second, even if you don't understand anything about hacking or the brain or computers in general, this book will fascinate you. Sure, there are some moments when Austin gets carried away in his excitement and I really have no idea what he's saying, but nothing that takes away from the experience of the book. I loved both Nyah and Austin's characters. They were both deep and complex, and I just loved reading about them.

But although this story is about two hackers going too far, it's also about so much more. Dekker has a way of creating a suspense story that will blow your mind. He seamlessly weaves the Christianity aspect into the story, in a way that isn't going to preach at you, stripping it down to the barest form. It will make you rethink everything you thought you knew, and make you see deeper and clearer than before. Even a nonbeliever could read this, or one of his other books, without any problems.

Although this is the third in the Outlaw Chronicles series, this could be read alone. I would recommend reading the other two, because they are just as amazing and intense. This book was filled with suspense and action, and the thrilling writing that Dekker is known for. If you have yet to read one of this books, I would highly suggest starting now.

The Outlaw Chronicles: